Punjab set to conduct medical entrance test

A day after the Centre's decision to keep the state boards out of the ambit of uniform medical entrance examination NEET for this year, Punjab government issued directions for holding a state-level test.

Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister Anil Joshi directed all concerned to make preparations for conducting the exam.

The Centre had yesterday given its nod for promulgation of an ordinance to keep state boards out of the ambit of NEET for this year.

The ordinance, cleared by the Union Cabinet, was aimed at "partially" overturning a Supreme Court verdict which said all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET.

In all probability, the entrance exam will be conducted on June 12 and the exact date will be uploaded on the website of the department as well as of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot which is to conduct the test, Joshi said.

Those who have applied earlier on the portal of Baba Farid University need not do so and pay the fee again. The registration number already allotted will be valid for the proposed test, he said.

The registration portal which was closed in view of the apex court's decision three days before the final date, will be opened again by Baba Farid University for three days till May 25.

The authorities have been told to issue an advertisement in newspapers as well as on website of the department and University to inform about it to all aspirants so that there is no confusion of any kind, the minister said.

Informing that the university has uploaded the mock test for that students' guidance on its website, Joshi directed the department to conduct the exam in transparent and efficient manner.